Acidosis (Grain Overload): A condition where abnormally high grain intake causes the pH of the digestive system to be abnormally low (<5.5). Signs of this problem may include diarrhea and colic.
Acute: Any process occurring over or within a short period of time.
Adjuvant(s): Carriers used in vaccines to increase immune responses. Often these components are the cause of allergic reactions.
Anemia: A term describing the lack of red blood cells in the body. The anemia can be the result of loss, destruction, and/or decreased production of red blood cells.
Anorexia: A loss of appetite or desire to eat.
Antibody: Protein molecules, produced by the immune system, that provide protection from infectious viruses or bacteria.
Aorta: The major vessel carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart into the body.
Arrhythmia: Any deviation from a normal heart rhythm. Deviations may include abnormal heart rate, pattern, or differences in electrical activity.
Artery: A blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart.
Atrium: A chamber of the heart. Horses have two atria, right and left.
Capillary: The smallest vessels where nutrients, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the tissues.
Capillary Refill Time (CRT): The amount of time it takes the gums to return to normal after being "blanched out." Normal CRT is less than 2 seconds.
If longer than 2 seconds, the blood circulation throughout the body may be compromised due to shock, dehydration, or other cardiovascular problems.Cardiovascular:
Refers to the heart and blood vessels of the body.Catheter: A hollow, tubular medical device which is placed into a body part for the removal or administration of fluids.
CC: See cubic centimeter.
Chronic: Any process occurring over a long period of time.
Colic: General abdominal pain. The source of the pain can be the liver, kidneys, intestines, stomach, etc.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): A blood test used to identify red and white blood cells. Often this test is used when looking for infection, or in animals suspected of having a low red blood cell count (anemia).
Concentrate: A high energy feed, usually a grain or grain by-product such as corn or barley.
Congenital: Present at birth. Birth defects are usually referred to as congenital.
Crude Protein: The total amount of protein in a feed, expressed as a percent of the feed. Crude protein is further subdivided into soluble, degradable, undegradable, by-pass, and bound protein fractions.
Cubic Centimeter (CC): A volume measurement identical to milliliter (mL).
Cystoscopy: A procedure where an endoscope is directed into the urinary bladder.
Definitive Diagnosis: The precise recognition of a specific disease.
Diastole:
The resting phase of the heart. During this time the ventricles fill with blood.Distal: A structure is further from the center of the body. For example, the three bones in the foot are designated by the terms proximal, middle, and distal, depending on their location relative to the fetlock.
Diuresis: Increased urine production. This can occur naturally in the animal or can be induced using special drugs or fluid administration.
Echocardiography or Echocardiogram:
A technique that examines the heart using ultrasonic sound waves produced by an ultrasound. An image is produced of the valves, muscle walls, and internal structures of the heart.Edema: Fluid swelling that can accumulate anywhere in the body.
Electrocardiography or Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A method of examining the heart that measures the electrical changes of the heart during a normal sequence of beats. This test detects irregular patterns and rhythms.
Endocarditis: When the endocardium or inner surface of the heart becomes inflamed or irritated.
Endoscope or Endoscopy: A narrow fiber optic camera that can be used to view the internal structures of an animal. These instruments come in various diameters and lengths, and are equipped with a moveable end that can move left, right, up, and down.
Energy: The amount of calories available in a feed for activity, work, growth, or milk production.
Fecal Flotation:
A procedure that is performed by a veterinarian and used to identify various parasite eggs in a fecal sample.Fiber: The portion of a feed that is indigestible or slowly digested. It may be expressed as crude fiber, non-detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, or effective fiber.
Forage: A high fiber plant such as grass, hay, or corn silage that is used for feed.
Founder: A condition that is caused by inflammation of the tissue between the hoof wall and coffin bone. Severe laminitis with rotation of the coffin bone is called founder.
Gestation:
The period of development of the fetus throughout the pregnancy.Glomerulonephritis:
Inflammation of the kidney, beginning at the level of the thousands of microscopic "glomeruli." The glomeruli are the tiny filters which allow only fluid and toxic compounds to pass from the bloodstream into the urinary tract to be excreted from the body.Grain Overload (Acidosis): See acidosis.
Gram Negative: Categorizing bacteria according to their color (red) when stained by a particular staining process. Some gram negative bacteria include E.coli and Klebsiella.
Gram Positive: Categorizing bacteria according to their color (blue) when stained by a particular staining process. Some gram positive bacteria include Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp.
Hemorrhage:
Bleeding or blood loss.Hematuria: Blood in the urine. The blood may or may not be seen with the naked eye.
Histology or Histopathology: The process of evaluating specially prepared tissue samples using a microscope. These samples are often taken from tissues collected from a mass/tumor or from an animal at necropsy.
Hot Nail: A nail that is in or close to the white line of the hoof, causing pain and inflammation.
Hypermotile: Something that is overactive, such as the intestinal tract.
Hypomotile: Something that is not as active as it should normally be.
Icterus:
A yellow discoloration of the gums and of the eye that is often associated with liver problems and some specific infectious agents.Idiopathic: When the exact cause of the problem or disease is not known.
IM: See intramuscular.
Immunity: Protection from disease as a result of the body’s normal immune system response. The body’s immune system can provide disease protection because of prior vaccinations or previous exposure to an infectious organism.
IN: See intranasal.
Indications for Use: The situations when a specific product can be used.
Intramuscular (IM): A term describing the route of administration of an injection. Use of this term would indicate that the injection should be given through the skin and into a muscle.
Intranasal (IN): Referring to the spraying or administering of a solution into the nostrils.
Intravenous (IV): A term describing the route of administration of medications or fluids. Use of this term would indicate that the substance should be given into a vein.
IV: See intravenous.
Killed Vaccine:
A type of vaccine that contains no live bacteria or viruses. These vaccines are safe to give to pregnant animals and also to foals in close association with pregnant animals.Laminitis:
A problem caused by inflammation of the tissue between the hoof wall and coffin bone. Severe laminitis, with rotation of the coffin bone, is called founder.Lethargy or Lethargic: Describing an animal’s disposition. These animals are slow to react, lack energy, and are often sick.
Lutalyse (PGF2a or Prostaglandin): A hormone used for estrus synchronization, infected uteruses, and inducing abortion.
Melena: Describing a situation where digested blood is found in the feces of an animal. Often the stool appears dark and tarry.
Milliliter (mL): A metric volume measurement that is identical to cubic centimeter (cc).
mL: See milliliter.
Modified Live Virus Vaccine (MLV): A type of vaccine that does contain live portions of disease-causing agents. These vaccines should not be given to pregnant animals or foals that are in close association with pregnant animals.
Murmur: An abnormal heart sound. These murmurs are graded from 1-6, with 6 being the loudest murmur.
Navicular Disease:
A destructive, arthritic condition of the navicular bone, causing lameness.Necropsy: The animal equivalent to human autopsy, meaning to examine an animal after death for signs that might indicate the cause of death.
Necrotic: Referring to decaying tissue. Often the tissue is black, decomposed, with a bad odor.
Neoplasia: Any type of cancer in the body. This term is usually associated with some type of mass or lump.
Nephritis: Inflammation of the kidney(s).
NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory): A group of drugs that decreases inflammation, swelling, and pain. By definition, they reduce inflammation, and are not steroids.
O-T-C (Over The Counter):
Products that do not require a veterinary prescription to purchase.Palatable or Palatability: The taste or texture of a forage. A forage that is highly palatable, has a pleasant taste or texture
Passive Transfer:
Acquiring protection against infectious disease from another animal. This commonly occurs when a foal consumes antibody-rich colostrum from its mother. Failure to have sufficient passive transfer increases the risk of disease.Pathology: The study of tissues for signs of disease. This process would occur on an aborted fetus or animal sent in for necropsy.
Peritonitis: Inflammation of the internal surface of the abdomen. This situation is often the result of infections and certain diseases.
PGF2alpha (Lutalyse or Prostaglandin): See Lutalyse.
Placentitis: The abnormal inflammation of the placenta, usually associated with infectious disease.
Polydypsia: An abnormal increase in thirst.
Polyp: A generic term for a small, raised, and often round mass or bump. Depending on the type of polyp, some are not harmful, while others require attention.
Polyuria: An abnormal increase in urination.
Presumptive Diagnosis: A situation when the diagnosis is based on a preliminary exam and not on specific testing and results. This diagnosis is often based on the clinician’s experience and clinical signs that may be very specific for a particular disease.
Prognosis: The chances of an animal having a normal quality of life following a disease or problem. This is reported using the words poor, fair, good, or excellent.
Prostaglandin (PGF2alpha or Lutalyse): See Lutalyse.
Proud Flesh: The excessive growth of tissue in a healing wound. This occurs most often on wounds below the knee and hock.
Proximal: A structure is nearer the center of the body. For example, the three bones in the foot are designated by the terms proximal, middle, and distal, depending on their location relative to the fetlock.
Pyelonephritis:
Inflammation of the kidney, beginning at the "pelvis." The pelvis is the enlarged hollow area inside the kidney where urine pools before entering the ureter. Pyelonephritis is generally due to a bacterial infection.Quarantine:
To confine and keep an animal from contacting other animals or people. This is essential in many of the infectious diseases that are potentially transmissible to other animals or humans.R
Rx (Prescription):
Products that require a veterinary prescription to purchase.SC or SQ:
See subcutaneous.Skin Tent: A process where the skin of an animal is gently pinched and pulled outward. A dehydrated animal’s skin will not return to its normal position or shape rapidly.
Subcutaneous (SC or SQ): The location for an injection. Use of this term would mean that the injection should be given under the skin, but not in the muscle.
Systole: Part of the normal beating of the heart where blood is pushed from the ventricles of the heart. This is known as the "contraction" phase of the heart beat.
Titer(s):
The immune system’s response to a particular disease. The higher the titer number, the stronger the immune response. Titers are used to determine if an animal has been exposed to a specific virus or bacteria. If the titer numbers are near zero, the animal has not been recently exposed to that organism.Transtracheal Wash: A procedure where the fluid from the lungs is collected and then evaluated.
Umbilicus:
The area where the umbilical cord was attached during gestation, commonly known as the "belly button."Urethroscopy: An examination of the urethra using an endoscope.
Uroliths or Urolithiasis: A variety of stones that are found in the urinary system.
Vein:
The blood vessels in the body that carry blood towards the heart.Ventricle: A chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The heart of a horse has two ventricles, left and right.
Z
Zoonosis or Zoonotic:
Any animal disease that can be spread to humans.